Microchannel plate gas display panel

Claim 2

An electronic display panel providing random access and information display, comprising the combination of: a plurality of channel plates of insulating material including an end plate stacked with their channels aligned, the individual plates thereof having relatively thin conductive layers on opposite sides, said layers having holes congruent with said channels, adjacent conductive layers of adjacent channel plates being spaced apart; means dividing a plurality of said conductive layers on one side of successive channel plates within said stack into discrete electrode areas, successive conductive layers on said one side of said plates being divided into a multiple number of smaller electrode areas aligned within a corresponding larger area of the preceding conductive layer, the other side of each of said channel plates having a continuous layer thereon; means for applying a sustaining potential between the opposite side conductive layers on said plates facing said end plate of said stack to form an information display surface; an enclosure containing a gas adapted for visible glow discharge in response to electrical stimulus, said enclosure being translucent at least in an area adjacent said display surface; and means for selectively applying different electric signal potentials to predetermined discrete electrode areas of selected ones of said plates to produce glow discharge within the corresponding channels, said glow discharge acting as a priming influence propagating within said channels to corresponding areas of adjacent plates, said priming influence being sufficient to cause glow discharge over a corresponding area of said display surface.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a plurality of intermediate channel plates interposed respectively between adjacent said channel plates and spacing apart said adjacent conductive layers.

Claim 4

An electronic display panel comprising: a plurality of controlled channel plates of insulating material each having first and second faces arranged in a stack with the channels thereof in alignment throughout said stack; a plurality of conductive coatings, one over each face of each of said plates, said conductive coatings having holes congruent with the channels of said plates, said coatings fuRther being subdivided along one face of each of said plates according to a predetermined spatial arrangement to form corresponding electrodes, successive conductive coatings on said one face of successive channel plates being divided into a multiple number of smaller electrode areas aligned within a corresponding larger area of the preceding conductive electrode coating, the other face of each of said channel plates having a continuous conductive electrode coating thereon; a viewing channel plate having continuous electrodes substantially over both faces, said electrodes having holes congruent with the channels of said viewing plate; an enclosure containing a gas capable of exhibiting visual glow discharge in response to excitation, said enclosure containing said channel plate stack and being transparent at least adjacent said viewing plate; means for applying a sustaining potential between the electrodes on the two opposite faces of said viewing plate sufficient to maintain but not to initiate glow discharge therein; and means for selectively applying different electric pulses to predetermined discrete electrode areas of said controlled channel plates to produce a glow discharge within the channels in the selected area of the face of the one of said controlled plates adjacent said viewing plate, whereby the channels of a corresponding area of said viewing plate are placed in a glow discharge condition by the priming action of the glow discharge of said selected area of said adjacent controlled plate acting with said sustaining potential.

Claim 5

An electronic display panel comprising: a plurality of controlled channel plates of insulating material each having first and second faces arranged in a stack with the channels thereof in alignment throughout said stack; a plurality of conductive coatings, one over each face of each of said plates, said conductive coatings having holes congruent with the channels of said plates, said coatings fuRther being subdivided along one face of each of said plates according to a predetermined spatial arrangement to form corresponding electrodes, successive conductive coatings on said one face of successive channel plates being divided into a multiple number of smaller electrode areas aligned within a corresponding larger area of the preceding conductive electrode coating, the other face of each of said channel plates having a continuous conductive electrode coating thereon; a viewing channel plate having continuous electrodes substantially over both faces, said electrodes having holes congruent with the channels of said viewing plate; an enclosure containing a gas capable of exhibiting visual glow discharge in response to excitation, said enclosure containing said channel plate stack and being transparent at least adjacent said viewing plate; means for applying a sustaining potential between the electrodes on the two opposite faces of said viewing plate sufficient to maintain but not to initiate glow discharge therein; and means for selectively applying different electric pulses to predetermined discrete electrode areas of said controlled channel plates to produce a glow discharge within the channels in the selected area of the face of the one of said controlled plates adjacent said viewing plate, whereby the channels of a corresponding area of said viewing plate are placed in a glow discharge condition by the priming action of the glow discharge of said selected area of said adjacent controlled plate acting with said sustaining potential.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said gas is neon.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said electrode areas are each controlled by a corresponding digit of a digital code, the first of said plates having its conductive coating on said one face divided into two discrete alternate electrode areas, each succeeding plate having its conductive coating on the same relative face divided into twice as many discrete alternating areas as the preceding plate and aligned within said corresponding larger areas of said preceding conductive coating, and said means for selectively applying different electric pulses to said electrode areas includes means for alternately applying two different electrical pulses each associated with respective alternate electrode areas of each channel plate.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said respective alternate discrete electrode areas of each plate are connected together electrically and are driven contemporaneously by the corresponding alternately applied electric pulse.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said interconnected discrete areas form first and second sets and whereby only three signal leads are required for each plate comprising one lead for each of said sets and one lead for said continuous conductive electrode coating on said other plate face.